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Red Sox, Pineiro agree to preliminary $4 million deal

Pitcher Joel Pineiro has reached preliminary agreement on a one-year deal for a guaranteed $4 million with the Boston Red Sox, multiple baseball sources said Wednesday.

The contract is contingent on Pineiro passing a physical exam later this week, the sources said. The deal includes a player option for 2008 and $2 million in performance bonuses based on games finished, according to The Associated Press.

Pineiro, who pitched exclusively as a starter during his last four seasons with Seattle, is expected to work out of the bullpen for Boston. He could be given a chance to compete for the team's closer's job in spring training.

Jonathan Papelbon, who saved 35 games as a rookie for the Red Sox before going down with shoulder problems, is expected to move to the starting rotation in 2007. Veterans Mike Timlin and Julian Tavarez and youngsters Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen could also be in the mix for the closer's job when the Red Sox arrive in spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., in February.

Pineiro, 28, went a combined 30-18 for the Mariners in 2002-03, but has tailed off badly over the last three seasons. His ERA has risen from 3.78 to 6.36 since the 2003 season, and his ratio of strikeouts per nine innings has declined from 7.10 to 4.73 over the past three years.

Some scouts, however, think that Pineiro can do a better job of maintaining his velocity and effectiveness in shorter doses out of the bullpen.

Pineiro made a base salary of $6.8 million last season, but became a free agent in December when the Mariners declined to offer him a contract rather than have him go to salary arbitration.

While the Red Sox have considered the idea of using Papelbon as a closer again next year, they're leaning strongly toward pitching him in the rotation. Red Sox officials think that Papelbon has a better chance of staying healthy and having a more productive future as a starter.

Even with Pineiro in the bullpen, Boston currently has six starters -- Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Papelbon and Jon Lester.

Re: Red Sox, Pineiro agree to preliminary $4 million deal

Originally Posted by pedro

speed doesn't matter if you can't pitch. I'd rather the Reds not spend 4 million to find out if a guy can even cut it in the pen.

And do what with it, sign another 40 year old soft tosser? This team is going nowhere fast and I'd rather see then try and get someone with upside rather than signing pitchers who are one 88 MPH "heater" away from TJ surgery (i.e., Mercker, Guardado, etc).

Listen, I don't think Pineiro would be the smartest signing to pull off (that would have been Dotel) but I'm kind of getting desperate. I'd rather see someone who has a shot at turning into something good than watching Stanton throw dribblers to the plate for 2 years.

Pineiro could be a complete bust, or he could be Joe Nathan. We shall see.

Re: Red Sox, Pineiro agree to preliminary $4 million deal

Originally Posted by edabbs44

And do what with it, sign another 40 year old soft tosser? This team is going nowhere fast and I'd rather see then try and get someone with upside rather than signing pitchers who are one 88 MPH "heater" away from TJ surgery (i.e., Mercker, Guardado, etc).

Listen, I don't think Pineiro would be the smartest signing to pull off (that would have been Dotel) but I'm kind of getting desperate. I'd rather see someone who has a shot at turning into something good than watching Stanton throw dribblers to the plate for 2 years.

Pineiro could be a complete bust, or he could be Joe Nathan. We shall see.

Joe Nathan? That's funny. Now, I'm not enamored of Stanton either but signing a guy like Piniero to a 4 million contract with the hopes that he might not SUCK in the bullpen is the kind of risk that only teams like the Red Sox can make. As for Dotel, I'm not a big proponent of giving 5 million to a guy who has only pitched 24 innings the last 2 years. The fact that he ended up with KC tells me that no one else was willing to take that kind of risk.

Get your nunchucks and the keys to your dad's car. I know where we can get a gun

Re: Red Sox, Pineiro agree to preliminary $4 million deal

Originally Posted by pedro

Joe Nathan? That's funny. Now, I'm not enamored of Stanton either but signing a guy like Piniero to a 4 million contract with the hopes that he might not SUCK in the bullpen is the kind of risk that only teams like the Red Sox can make. As for Dotel, I'm not a big proponent of giving 5 million to a guy who has only pitched 24 innings the last 2 years. The fact that he ended up with KC tells me that no one else was willing to take that kind of risk.

Why is Joe Nathan funny?

Nathan: age 24-25 as a starter: 109 walks in 183 2/3 innings.
Gagne: age 24-25 as a starter: ERAs of 5.15 and 4.75.
Mariano: age 25 as a starter: 19 games, 10 games started, 5.51 ERA.

Sometimes all it takes is a move to the bullpen. You can laugh at the names I just mentioned, but why couldn't it happen to Pineiro? It's a longshot, but I would have taken the risk over Stanton, Weathers, Cormier, etc. In two years these guys will be glue. If Pineiro pans out and Cincy is out of it, he would be a hot commodity at the deadline. If he bombs Cincy is still in 4th place, at best, with or without him. Good luck trying to deal the three old guys for more than Brendan Harris-type players when the deadline comes. Esspecially with those attractive 2 year deals.

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